LfiSEND 
OF 
LAI- 
CHOW 


By 

ANNIE 

B. 

GAY 
GASTON 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  LEGEND  OF  LAI-CHOW 


of  I  )ni-la\\ -vicli 


THE  LEGEND  OF 
LAI-CHOW 


BY 

ANNIE  B.  GAY  GASTON 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 
MR.  LIU 

Artist  of  Lai- chow 


NEW  YORK  CHICAGO  TORONTO 

Fleming  H.   Revell   Company 

LONDON  AND  EDINBURGH 


•*/ 


Copyright,  1916,  by 
FLEMING  H.  REVELL  COMPANY 


New  York  :  1 58  Fifth  Avenue 
Chicago:  17  North  Wabash  Ave. 
Toronto:  25  Richmond  Street,  W. 
London  :  21  Paternoster  Square 
Edinburgh  :  100  Princes  Street 


DEDICATED 

TO 
MY   MOTHER 


FOREWORD 

DURING  seven  years'  residence  at  Lai- 
chow,  in  the  province  of  Shantung, 
North   China,    I    often    heard    The 
Legend  of  Lai-chow  told  by  Chinese  preachers 
and  Bible  women,  in  their  native  tongue,  as  an 
illustration  of  Christ's  giving  his  life  a  ransom 
for  His  people.    I  wrote  the  story  out  in  Eng 
lish  prose,  but  was  persuaded  by  friends  that 
its   metrical    quality   justified   publication    in 
the  present  form. 

My  work  in  China  is  interpreting  to  the 
Chinese  the  love  of  God  and  of  American 
Christianity,  through  hospital  service. 

My  hope  is  that  this  story  of  unselfish  devo 
tion  to  duty  on  the  part  of  a  Chinese,  will  show 
to  the  Western  World  the  high  qualities  and 
noble  characteristics  which  are  to  be  found  in 
this  ancient  people. 

MRS.  JAMES  M'FADDEN  GASTON. 


THE  LEGEND  OF  LAI-CHOW 

WOULD  you  hear  an  old,  old  story 
From  the  lore  of  far  Shantung-land? 

Ere  the  1Manchu  ruled  in  China — 
Late  the  2Mings  were  come  to  Peking — 
From  the  North  there  came  rude  Red  Beards, 
Wielding  mighty  sabre  handles. 

Stemming  tide  and  wind  and  water, 
Their  rough  barges  brought  them  onward 
Till  they  dropt  their  iron  anchors, 
By  the  shores  of  old  Dung-jo. 

What  their  errand?  what  their  mission? 
Only  gain  of  gold  would  sate  them; 
Given  this,  they  wanted  naught  else, 
And  would  pass,  with  blade  still  sheathed. 

1  Manchu — The  last  dynasty  ruling  in  China,    1644- 
1912. 

2  Ming — Dynasty  preceding  the  Manchu,  1368-1644. 

9 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Tlien  quick  flew  the  word  of  warning; 
Straight  the  city  merchants  gathered, 
Piled  their  gold  up  high  before  them, 
Saying,  "Take  this,  leave  us  peaceful." 

Now  the  man  who  led  the  warriors 

Was  called  Kong,  from  childhood,  "Yio  Dei." 

Naught  of  fear  or  faltering  knew  he, 

And  his  soldiers  followed,  faithful. 

Satisfied  with  gold  they  came  on, 

And  old  Dung-jo  breathed  more  freely, 

Offered  up  her  fires  of  incense, 

And  returned  to  peace  and  quiet. 

Coming  over  rugged  mountains, 
Camping  by  an  humble  village, 
Here  there  happened  that  dread  something 
Which  wrought  lasting  woe  and  sorrow. 

Fowl  meat  for  a  soldier's  supper, — 
What  a  small  thing,  what  a  trifle ! 
But  it  was  a  stolen  chicken, 
Aye,  it  was  the  Swan's  own  pullet. 
1  Gwan — Magistrate. 
10 


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XKe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

So  the  Gwan  said,  "Blood  there  must  be," 
And  brave  Kong  said,  "Ay,  it  must  be." 
Not  for  strife  he-made  this  journey, 
Only  for  the  lure  of  money, 
Taking  large  things,  loads  of  lucre, 
Not  a  small  thing  like  a  chicken. 

He  who  did  the  petty  looting 
Must  give  life  in  forfeit  for  it; 
So  'twas  ruled,  and  so  'twas  given — 
Still  the  Gwan  was  not  appeased. 

Mighty  Kong  must  come  before  him, 
Bow  to  earth  and  beg  his  pardon, 
And  his  soldiers  with  him,  likewise, 
All  must  'eat  this  bitter  business.' 

Thus  they  did,  but  sorely  suffered, — 
Filthy  water  in  their  faces, 
Flung  by  women  of  the  aYahmen ! — 
"Now  indeed,"  they  vowed,  "this  endeth 
The  amends  that  we  shall  make  him." 

1  Yahmen — Court. 
II 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-chow 

Fierce  they  quarreled,  and  the  life  blood 
Of  great  Kong  himself  must  pay  them, 
If  he  led  them  not  to  conquer 
All  these  petty  Gwans  before  them. 

What  else  could  he  ? — So  'twas  settled 
To  the  ^oo-town  he  must  lead  them, 
There  redress  of  wrong  to  win  them. 
So  they  traveled,  and  they  traveled, 
Till  they  reached  the  court  town  Lai-chow. 
Walled  about  she  stood  before  them, 
Strong  to  battle,  hard  to  conquer, 
Holding  here  a  court  of  justice 
For  the  laws  of  Lai-chow-fu-land. 

Then  great  Kong  bethought  him  quickly, 
"Here  a  friend  I  have,  old  Dru-yieh; 
We  together  were  in  childhood, 
He  will  help  me  now  to  settle 
This  most  trying  situation. 

"He  the  Gwan  here,  ruling  wisely, 
Father  of  a  quiet  people, 

1  Foo — Prefectural. 
12 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

He  will  help  me  quell  the  spirit 
Of  my  angry  Red  Beard  Soldiers." 

Out  came  Dru-yieh  prompt  to  meet  him, 
Followed  by  his  1yah-ye  troopers, 
Quick  to  offer  eastern  welcome 
To  the  guests  from  northland  coming. 

In  the  Yahmen  courtyard  crowding, 
Soon  was  spread  a  Foo-Gwan's  feast, 
Plenty  for  the  gallant  captain, 
Plenty  for  his  band  of  followers. 

Long  they,  friendly,  talked  together, 
Drank  their  wine  and  ate  their  'good  food/ 
Till  the  purpose  of  this  coming 
Must  at  last  be  set  forth  plainly. 

"For  an  insult  by  the  roadside 
My  bold  men  must  have  their  redress, 
Naught  but  2kahtow  from  your  city 
Will  suffice,"  said  Kong  the  mighty. 

1  Yah-ye — Court-followers. 

2  Kahlow — Chinese  obeisance. 

13 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Then  said  Dru-yieh,  "Back  to  Dung-jo 
You  should  lead  your  angry  soldiers ; 
You  were  near  to  that  Foo  city, 
And  were  far  away  from  Lai-chow 
When  the  insult  foul  was  given." 

(Now  old  Dru-yieh  well  remembered 
How  this  village  under  question 
Oft  made  trouble  on  the  border. 
Standing  near  the  line  of  boundary 
'Twixt  his  district  and  the  Dung-jo, 
Many  a  problem  had  arisen 
As  to  court  of  justice  proper 
For  the  settling  of  its  quarrels, 
For  the  meting  out  of  justice 
To  the  simple  country  people.) 

"Good,"  said  Kong  Yio,  very  willing 
To  ward  off  the  evil  business 
From  his  friend  and  former  playmate. 
"Good,"  his  men  said.    They  remembered 
Gold  in  plenty  at  old  Dung-jo  ; 
So  they  traveled,  and  they  traveled 
All  the  way  to  ancient  Dung-jo. 
14 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Quick  bethought  him  wise  old  Dru-yieh, 
"They  are  gone,  but  they  will  come  back; 
I  must  ready  be  to  meet  them ; 
I  must  save  my  city's  children." 

Swift  the  couriers  flew  to  Peking; 
Horse  on  horse  relaying  hourly, 
Man  to  man  transmitting  message, 
From  a  sundown  to  a  sundown, 
Weary  li  they  rode  a  thousand. 

Back  the  message  from  the  ^wang-shang ; 
"I've  no  soldiers  for  your  city. 
Use  your  wits  and  save  your  people 
From  this  band  of  northern  robbers." 

Then  great  Dru-yieh  sore  was  troubled; 
Well  he  knew  the  matter  vexing 
Ne'er  in  Dung-jo  would  be  settled. 
Well  he  knew  their  second  coming 
Would  be  hot  in  wrath  upon  him 
For  the  trick  that  he  had  played  them. 

1  Emperor. 
15 


THe    Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Up  he  called  the  city's  people, 

Told  them  straight  the  situation, 

Said  'twas  vain  to  stand  against  them — 

Those  same  men  of  wrath  and  anger, 

Naught  but  his  own  blood  would  answer. 

Bitter  wailed  his  people  round  him ; 
Well  they  loved  him,  loth  to  lose  him. 
Eager  sought  some  other  measure, 
For  the  saving  of  their  lives. 

Strong  they  fortified  the  city, 
Mending  wall  in  every  crevice, 
Mounting  guns  on  every  turret, 
Waiting  for  the  host  returning. 

'Twas  late  spring-time  when  they  saw  them, 
Marching  down  the  road  from  Whang-shien. 
More  their  number;  mightier  were  they; 
And  their  hearts  were  full  of  blood-shed, 
For  the  trick  that  had  been  played  them. 

Fair  the  country  was,  and  fertile, 
Full  of  bloom  and  cherry  blossom, 
16 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Wheat  fields  stretching,  stretching  smoothly, 
Like  the  swelling  of  the  ocean. 

And  the  villages  among  them 
Spoke  of  quiet  peace  and  plenty, 
Not  of  hard  and  minted  money, 
But  of  gold  that  grows  from  sunshine, 
With  the  jewels  of  the  morning, 
And  the  pearls  of  eventide. 
Round  the  city  lay  the  great  moat, 
Dry  in  spring-time,  full  in  summer. 
'Twere  a  deadly  dare  to  cross  it 
When  the  wall  was  manned  so  strongly. 

By  the  city's  deep,  cool  shadow, 
Lay  the  lotus  ponds  in  stillness. 
There  the  blossoms  fair  and  pink-lipped — 
See  them,  shell-shaped,  golden-hearted, 
Standing  thus  in  queen-like  beauty, 
Tall  and  glorious,  chaste  and  noble, 
With  a  court  of  buds,  a-bending, 
Blushing,  curtsying,  all  around  them. 
At  their  feet  the  broad,  green  leaf  trays, 
As  if  waiting  there  to  serve  them. 
17 


XKe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

\\"ould  that  we,  O  lotus  flowers, 
Might  once  catch  and  keep  forever 
All  the  myth  and  all  the  mystery, 
All  the  eastern  charm  and  glory, 
That  your  beauty  and  your  fragrance 
Have  been  shedding  down  the  ages. 
In  this  ancient  land  of  China, 
Here  where  man  has  long  forgotten 
And  forsaken  his  Creator, 
Bowing  down  in  sinful  worship, 
Year  by  year  you've  come  back  always, 
In  the  golden  summer  sunshine, 
And  have  beckoned  and  have  lifted, 
Yet  a  little  toward  the  blue, 
Toward  the  Heavenly  Father's  mercy, 
Toward  all  purity  and  goodness. 

Hushed  the  sounds  of  home  and  farm-side, 
For  a  scourge  was  on  the  people, 
Scourge  of  war,  with  siege  impending, 
And  no  aid  from  outside  coming. 

Some  took  refuge  in  the  city ; 
Some  from  city  flew  to  village ; 
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THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Many  scattered  to  the  mountains, 
There  in  caves  to  hide  away. 


Five  long  months  they  thus  were  harassed ; 
Summer  heat  and  sickness  slew  them, 
Crops  were  ruined,  cattle  famished, 
And  the  end  was  near  to  see. 

Sadly  sat  the  good  old  Dru-yieh, 
In  his  Yah-men  court  secluded, 
Thinking,  thinking,  ever  thinking, 
Of  the  end  that  was  to  be. 

Of  his  people — yea,  he  loved  them, 
Through  these  tortured  months  of  waiting 
They  had  closer  drawn  unto  him, 
They  had  proved  their  simple  trusting. 

Of  his  boy — ah!  there  the  hurt  was; 
In  his  old  age  this  one  only 
Had  been  given  to  build  his  hope  on, 
This  his  heart's  great  pride  and  treasure. 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Now  to  leave  him  and  his  mother 
Far  from  home  and  unprotected, 
Or  to  see  them,  helpless,  suffer 
At  the  hands  of  cruel  robbers! 


She,  a  lady  gently  nurtured 

In  a  sunny  southern  province, 

He,  a  boy  of  thirteen  summers, 

Lithe  of  form,  with  black  eyes  piercing, 

Learning,  ever  learning,  wisdom 

Far  beyond  his  tale  of  years. 

Soft  a  step  unto  him  coming — 
And  a  Yah-ye  down  before  him, 
Prone  upon  the  ground,  uplifted 
Letters,  from  the  outside,  sent  in. 

"This  must  end,"  great  Kong  had  written. 
"Longer  now  I  cannot  hold  them. 
Seventh  day  of  seventh  moon  this; 
All  this  business  must  be  finished. 
Either  your  blood,  or  the  people's." 
20 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-chow 

"Mine,"  old  Dru-yieh  cried,  upstarting, 
"Mine  shall  be  the  ransom  given, 
Of  my  people  and  my  boy. 

"Call  my  penman,  call  him  quickly. — 
Ah!  sit  here,  and  straitly  write  them: 
Trice  of  peace  shall  now  be  paid  you. 
When  the  temple  bell  is  ringing 
For  the  third  hour  after  midnight, 
At  the  south  gate,  on  the  wall  top, 
Watch  for  men  with  ropes  of  hemp- weed. 
There  we'll  pay  the  city's  ransom — 
Only  you  must  straitly  bind  you, 
That,  the  price  once  fully  given, 
Hair  of  head,  nor  little  finger 
Of  my  people  shall  be  wounded.' ' 

Straight  the  message,  quick  the  answer, 
Swearing  by  departed  spirits, 
Not  to  harm  the  city's  people, 
When  the  ransom  had  been  paid. 

Now  good  Dru-yieh  must  make  ready : 
Calling  out  a  trusted  yah-ye, 

21 


THe  Legend   of  Lai-cHow 

"\\'hen  the  morning  comes,"  he  faltered, 
"I  shall  not  be  here  to  tell  you 
All  that  I  would  have  you  tell  him — 
Him  in  yonder  room  a-sleeping." 

Long  they  talked,  the  servant  weeping, — 
Past  the  first  bell  and  the  second. 
Then  old  Dru-yieh,  slowly  stooping, 
Passed  within  the  doorway,  bending 
By  the  kong  where  lay  his  Tong-lin, 
Sleeping — moonbeams  all  about  him. 

"I  am  robbing  him  of  father," 
Said  the  old  man,  "but  I  give  him, 
What  is  better,  life  and  loving, 
And  a  spotless,  noble  lineage, 
And  a  deed  of  simple  duty 
As  a  model  for  his  living." 

Out  he  went  and  called  his  yah-ye, 
"Come,  my  men,  there's  work  to  do  now. 
Bring  your  ropes  of  hemp-weed  twisted — 
Follow  wheresoe'er  I  lead  you." 
22 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHcrw 

Through  the  quiet  street,  deserted 
By  a  people  crushed  and  hopeless, 
To  the  south  gate  straight  he  led  them, 
Up  the  long  stairway  he  led  them, 
Step  by  step,  unfaltering,  dauntless, 
Till  they  reached  the  top  and  waited, 
Breath  to  gain,  and  looked  about  them. 

At  their  feet  the  robbers  gathered, 
Waiting  like  a  flock  of  vultures, 
Black,  uncanny,  full  of  hatred, 
Moving  in  and  out  the  shadows. 

Out  across  the  plains  and  mountains 
Lay  the  moonlight,  bright  as  daytime, 
And  the  moon  looked  down  amazed 
At  this  deed  of  love  and  hatred. 

Then  good  Dru-yieh  took  the  rope-ends, 
Tied  them  round  his  waist  and  arm-pits, 
While  his  men  began  to  question, 
"What?"   and   "Why  thus?"    "No,— we  will 

not." 

But  he  hushed  them — "Steady  now,  men  ; 
23 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Brace  your  feet  within  the  rock-cleft; 
Wait ! — the  bell — it  soon  must  call  us 
All  to  worship  for  the  full  moon — 
Worship  now  for  Earth  and  Heaven." 

Softly,  quivering  down  the  mountains, 
Came  the  first  stroke  and  the  second. — 
Ah!  what  alchemy  could  make  it? 
Where  the  wizard  that  could  mold  it? 
Whose  the  soul  outspeaking  through  it? 
Moan  of  wood  doves,  song  of  south  wind, 
Lovers'  sighs  and  maidens'  singing, 
All  are  melted  and  are  mingled 
In  the  bells  of  Daw-seh-goo. 

When  were  made  these  bronze  bells,  ancient? 
"When?  Who  knows?"  the  dullard  answers; 
But  a  scholar,  turning  backward 
On  the  yellow  page  of  time, 
Runs  his  finger  on  the  margin : 
"  'Twas  when  Mau-Gwei  ruled,  the  bloody, 
Sending  here  to  slay  our  strong  men, 
Till  from  out  all  Lai-chow-fu-land, 
Only  seven  names  were  left. 
24 


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XHe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

"Long  before  proud  Jung-tzu,  Hwang-shang, 
Up  from  Nanking  came  to  Peking, 
There  to  set  his  court  in  power, 
There  to  rule  the  Middle  Kingdom.1 


•  •' 


Hai!  These  names,  all  strange,  unmeaning, 
Tell  us  not  the  thing  we  asked  you ; 
Count  the  years  and  we  can  measure 
By  some  other  date  familiar. 

"Years?    Ay,  by  the  years  you  may  know; 

All  the  months  and  all  the  moon  feasts 

Of  the  centuries  down  enfolding 

Have  been  added,  and  are  adding, 

To  the  2lai-li  of  our  land 

By  the  bronzed  bells  yonder  hanging." 

So  we  measure  back  in  history. 
'Twas  before  the  New  World  opened, 
E'en  before  the  Crusade  marches; 
Was't  when  Alfred  blessed  the  Briton? 
Was  it  then  this  bell  was  fashioned? 

2  Lai-li — History. 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

"Hai!  man,  even  then  'twas  ancient; 
For  the  temple  then  a-builcling, 
It  was  brought  from  some  far  temple, 
And  its  date,  by  Time's  hard  finger, 
Has  been  worn  beyond  restoring." 

So  our  quest  is  still  unfruitful, 
And  our  question  yet  unanswered. 

But  the  bells  have  ceased  a-ringing. 
As  their  last  sob  trembled  downward, 
Quick  the  move  and  hard  the  breathing, 
As  the  men  resisted,  striving 
To  keep  back  the  work  of  love. 

Shut  your  eyes,  you  would  not  see  it, — 
Not  that  deadly  deed  of  hatred. 
Slack  the  rope  is — ay,  'tis  lightened — 
Back  they  draw  it  to  the  turret —    • 
Stand  aghast  to  see  it  carries 
The  right  arm  of  Dru-law-yieh ! 

Sickening,  see,  the  pale  moon  shivers, 
Draws  a  cloud  across  her  white  face, 
26 


XHe  Legend  of  Lai-cHpw 

From  the  sight  she  would  not  witness, 
From  the  fiendish  deed  then  done. 

Day-light  dawns;  the  moon,  down  slipping, 
Slumbers  in  the  western  sea. 

Murderers  now,  the  deed  accomplished, 
All  have  scattered,  fled  for  Dung- jo, 
To  take  shipping  for  the  northland, 
There  to  hide  their  darksome  crime. 

Wide  the  city  gates  flew  open; 
Men  out-hasting  to  their  home  towns, 
In  poured  crowds  of  curious  gazers. 
Trade,  upspringing,  cried  its  bread-stuffs. 
Now  was  feeding  for  the  hungry; 
Now  was  courage  for  the  faint-heart. 
Siege  days  over,  hope  of  living 
Sprang  again  in  every  bosom. 

But  the  thing  that  sorely  grieved  them 
Was  the  loss  of  brave  old  Dru-yieh. 
He  for  them  had  paid  the  ransom. 
Given  his  life  to  buy  them  living. 
27 


XHe   Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Straight  the  men  of  Lai-chow  gathered, 
Sent  a  message  to  the  palace, 
To  the  king  in  Peking  dwelling, 
Telling  of  the  deed  of  love. 
"Now  we  have  no  City  Father — 
Send  us,  pray  we,  one  to  rule  us, 
One  to  love  us  like  our  Dru-yieh." 

Back  the  answer :  "Such  I  have  not, 
But  a  Foo-Gwan  I  will  send  you. 
He  has  orders  first  to  honor 
Him  who  went  before  him,  Dru-yieh. 
Build  a  temple,  make  an  image — 
For  its  arm,  the  arm  of  Dru-yieh, 
E'en  the  arm  that  saved  your  city. 
And  adown  the  ages  running, 
Tell  your  children,  tell  them  always, 
Of  the  one  who  saved  your  city; 
Thus  his  name  may  never  perish. 
For  the  son — I  take  him  henceforth, 
At  the  Mcft  hand  of  my  power; 
And  the  widow  shall  be  cared  for 
As  befits  a  hero's  memory." 

lLeft  hand — Place  of  honor. 
28 


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THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

So  they  builded  up  a  temple, 
Stone  on  stone  to  do  hijaa  honor — 
Him  who  won  it  by  his  life-blood, 
Even  noble  Dru-law-yieh. 

Fair  pagoda  roof  uprising, 
Tiled  and  tinted,  curved  and  graceful, 
Called  all  men  to  come  and  worship 
At  the  shrine  of  Dru-law-yieh. 

***** 

Times  are  changed.    The  Mings  are  sleeping 
In  their  famous  gilded  tombs. 
Manchu  hands  have  ruled  old  China 
For  two  hundred  years  and  more. 

Fair-faced  men  are  coming,  coming, 
And  are  knocking  for  admittance. 
"Not  like  1Han-men — not  like  2Eben, 
What  their  mission?    Why  their  coming? 
Is  it  trade  that  they  are  wanting, 
Or  the  conquest  of  our  country?" 

lHan-men — Native  Chinese. 
*  Eben — Japanese. 
29 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

Word  flew  all  about  in  Lai-chow: 
"He  is  here — the  dread  outsider ! 
He  has  come  to  build  a  castle 
On  the  border  of  our  town!" 

Women  fainted,  water-hearted, 
At  the  thought  of  dire  disaster 
And  the  ruin  of  the  country 
That  would  follow  in  his  train. 

Then  they  waited  for  the  dread  thing; 
But  it  came  not,  for  the  fair  man 
Went  among  them,  and  a  woman 
Walked  beside  him,  fairer  still. 

Laughing  children  followed,  closely, 
Hands  as  white  as  cherry  blossoms, 
Cheeks  like  rosy,  ripe  pomegranates, 
Sunny  curls  about  them  blowing. 

Daily  moved  the  man  among  them; 
All  his  ways  were  kind  and  gentle ; 
In  his  smile  was  friendship's  greeting.- 
"Listen  now,  he  speaks  our  language !"- 
30 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

-••  T        ""-  •>*•*-       •• ,.,. 

"And  we  hear  him  saying  'brother.' ' 
"For  the  sick  he  has  a  potion, 
Wonderful  to  cure  their  suffering; 
And  he  stoops  to  wash  our  bodies, 
From  their  sores  of  sin  and  shame." 

"By  his  side,  there  is  no  sword  blade, 

But  a  Book  he  carries  always ; 

And  he  says  if  we  will  listen 

He  will  tell  us  a  new  story, 

Of  The  Man  who  came  to  save." 

"New?" — "Yes,  new;  yet  old  it  must  be, 

For  'tis  like  our  city's  legend. 

Well  we  understand  the  meaning 

Of  the  one  who  came  to  save, 

Giving  his  life-blood  a  ransom 

For  all  those  who  trust  his  power." 

Thus  it  comes  that  Yieh-hyen  people, 
All  about  the  city  Lai-chow, 
One  by  one  are  turning,  many, 
To  the  One  who  came  to  save. 


THe  Legend  of  Lai-cHow 

In  their  Christian  churches,  often, 
Still  is  told  the  old,  old  story 
Of  the  man  who  saved  their  city — 
Fitting  type  of  Him  they  trust  in 
For  the  saving  of  their  souls. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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